'Quartetto Brioso' String Quartet No.2

Work dating from 1952-58. Programme note: The spectrum of sound, the gesticulation – in short, the very nature of the strings – has always had a central place in my output, demonstrated by the numbers of string quartets, concertos with string soloist, chamber and solo works. The interest dates back to my school years, when I was fortunate to be able to compose for a cello-playing schoolmate and to accompany him on the piano. I discovered then the innumerable nuances of sound and playing varieties offered by just one bow, four strings and five fingers.. My second string quartet – Quartetto Brioso – has a firm root in the Nordic tradition and is strongly inspired by JeanSibelius (1865-1957) and my teacher Vagn Holmboe (1909-96). Per Nørgård